SMsmusamashah·Sep 10, 2025
https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar to have customisable Windows 98/XP like taskbar
In Windows 10 resists its end: usage share climbs while Windows 11's fallsdremin
RetroBar
C#2021–2025
dremin / RetroBar
RetroBar
Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista taskbar for modern versions of Windows
7Distinct people
15Mentions
1Explicit recommenders
4.5KGitHub stars
What to know before exploring
What it is
Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista taskbar for modern versions of Windows
GitHub
Where it is used
No documented product use has been verified yet.
What people are saying
I recommend using RetroBar https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar Its portable and gives your taskbar look of Windows 98 -> Vista.
smusamashah used a recommendation phrase. One indexed comment matches. This is a phrase match, not a verdict.
No classified warning is attached to this page. Read the discussions before treating silence as approval.
Also in these discussions
No other repository is repeatedly linked in the same discussions.
This week on Hacker News
Nov 7–Nov 14 UTC · Direct repository links and separately labeled related project stories. Indexed through 11/14/2026, 3:56:07 PM UTC.
No direct repository links were found in the indexed HN discussions over the past seven days. Older discussions are available below.
Mentions over time
HN mentions by year15 dated mentions
Observed mentions: 2021-08-18 10:17:31 UTC to 2025-09-10 14:19:30 UTC.
Counts come from the repository’s dated source evidence. Index cutoff: 2026-11-02 08:16:59 UTC.
View mention counts and date ranges
| Period | Start (UTC) | End (exclusive, UTC) | Mentions | Submissions | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2022-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| 2023 | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2024-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2025-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 2026-01-01 00:00:00 UTC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What Hacker News says
15 sourcesWhenever I set up a new computer for older family members, despite it being windows 11, I always install open shell[1] and retro bar[2]. Between the two, I've made the operating system look very close to Windows XP visually, and they always appreciate it.
[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu
[2] https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
In Windows XP 2024 Edition is everything I want from a new OShttps://github.com/dremin/RetroBar replicates all old taskbar and I have been using it for a long time now. Works perfectly on Windows 10.
In A KDE Plasma theme that aims to replicate the look and feel of Windows 7I wanted that toolbar for a very long time, didn't know it now exists. Thanks for recommending. I have switched to https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar/ for a very a while now but this is very intriguing.
In Fluent Searchhttps://github.com/dremin/RetroBar gives at least the classic taskbar back. I have been using it on windows 10 for a while now. It is much better experience.
In The History of Windows 2.0RetroBar: Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP taskbar for modern Windows
1 points · Open discussionI recommend using RetroBar https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
Its portable and gives your taskbar look of Windows 98 -> Vista.
In Windows 11 update added 'Search' label to taskbar search button – how to remove?RetroBar: Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista taskbars on Windows 10/11
2 points · Open discussionRetroBar: Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista taskbar for modern Windows
2 points · Open discussionA few people are trying to claim it back! My current favorite - https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
In Designing Windows 95’s User Interface (2018)For those that liked the Classic windows taskbar that has been removed in W11, I'd like to plug RetroBar - https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
In Show HN: Rethinking Tabs in FirefoxWhen it comes to Windows 10, I basically "pave over" as much of the shell as possible. This includes replacing the Start menu with Classic Shell/Open Shell, potentially replacing the taskbar with RetroBar [0], erasing as many UWP apps (Cortana and Edge included) as possible from the system, basically anything goes.
For things that are relatively useful to keep like Windows Explorer, I try the numerous registry tweaks that remove features I don't like (for example, OneDrive integration). Couple this with Tron and similar scripts.
Installing an LTSC edition would obviously be nice, but it's hard and expensive to get to get (see [1] - the general consensus seems to be that you need to go through a VAR, and then buy an LTSC license alongside some cheap shopping basket fillers to get above the minimum number of licenses limit). When it's avail
Read the rest
able, it makes the above "paving over" process much easier than a retail/pro edition.
[0]: https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
[1]: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-do...
When it comes to the task bar, the closest to it might be RetroBar: https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
In A Windows 95-like shell for Windows 3.1xThe Windows 11 taskbar was rewritten from scratch, with what it looks like a few bits from the Win32 version bolted on. Hence it never supported putting the taskbar/menu on the side.
Th ExplorerPatcher utility, on the other hand, re-enables the Windows 10 taskbar. It also disables the Snap layouts. I expect that the Windows 10 taskbar will slowly break.
Perhaps alternative taskbars [1] will become popular at some point.
[1]: https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar
In Microsoft explains why you can't move Windows 11 TaskbarRetroBar: Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP taskbar for modern Windows
53 points · Open discussion